Element: Galmn

Initiation

The element galmn allows the phaelimn to control dead flesh and bones. It is a very rare skill and fairly ill practiced in the known world. It's misunderstood by common people as well, who say galmnphaelimni can resurrect the dead. This is a blatant falsehood made up by superstition and misconceptions. The truth is that those that are capable of this skill can move, fling or even explode corpses. They are limited to only being able to manipulate dead fauna, a Laben's element's counterpart for controlling dead flora has yet to be discovered. A galmphaelimn can also mold flesh, a slow process, in order to refine it into chemical components used for poisons, fertilizers or other specialized ingredients. This skill requires a high amount of brilliance and intelligence, knowing and understanding how the body functions is extremely important for controlling this element properly. When manipulating the element galmn the user will make short decisive strokes with two fingers held together on one hand, usually the index- and middle- fingers. The posture of the phaelimn is less relevant here.
Although people are not fond of it, it has never been outlawed. There are however a lot of taboo's around it and some obvious laws. Such as not to disturb corpses that were put to rest, only practice on those that gave their body to the temples. This topic ties heavily into burial practices and traditions. Those that are willing may enter a temple of balance and receive a small tattoo on their armpit. It is a simple mark that blends in with the flesh color of the person, the marks themselves are unique to each temple and also contain the date of when they received it. The temple will take in any marked body and give a bronze necklace to the family of the marked, these special trinkets can be handed in at the next harvest season for food. From earth comes life, from life comes death and from death comes earth. It is seen as honorable and patriotic to be part of this circle.

Concordant elements

These elements are similar and easier to learn as galmnphaelimn compared to others: Haki(Force) and Aafti(void)

Discordant elements

These elements are difficult to learn as galmnphaelimn compared to others: Element: Utae(Air) and Ita(water)

Natural occurrences

Flora

There are some grasses, mosses, fungi and plants that can only grow on corpses. They are all deep dark red colored and do not require the sun to grow, they simply require a corpse to sustain themselves. Their life cycle is relatively short. These flora are also very sturdy and can grow in extremely harsh conditions. Many of them are sought after ingredients for either cooking or chemistry. The red flora has a clear connection with the element galmn. Those who have true sight (individuals that can see the Anu'laben force) can clearly see these plants connect with the cadaver, seeing it leech not only physical energy, but also energy from the Laben field. These are some examples of common galmn flora species:

• Etnamn, this moss has sticky barbed spores that attach themselves to recently hatched carrion flies or other insects. It only takes a single spore to infect a fresh cadaver. The moss itself spreads far slower then the other corpse flora, they however can outlast the other plants and eventually consumes them as the corpse runs out of nutrients. Trackers can often tell how old a cadaver is just by looking at the etnamn moss coverage on the outside. The moss can be dried and crushed to be used as a rare hot spice.
• Oston is one of the most unique corpse plants, while its seeds can be carried by carrion insects like the other plants and mosses. This one is unique in that it's cultivated by the type of bee it was named after. The Fiton is a bee that specifically carries this plants seeds to corpses and plants it in the dead flesh. They will even put effort in protecting a corpse from other insects, these bees are often seen swarming cadavers and protect it aggressively from even large animals. Their stings are very painful and lingering. They actively grow oston which provides them with a concentrated nutrient for the bees larva. It's more then a symbiotic relationship, these bees actively choose the best plant seeds to further spread. The red plant leafs are great for tea, comically enough, with honey.
• Ghailv is found in almost all temperate and tropical regions, it is a very common fungi and also a hated one. It will grow on corpses and cadavers, it creates pockets of gas beneath itself. If the gas bubble gets to big it pops, shooting the spores on the mushroom up into the air. The reason it's hated is because people allergic to them can obtain the same conditions. If the fungi is left alone on these individuals, the pockets of gas will create internal wounds and when they explode can cause massive open wounds. They also grow very fast, luckily the fungi dies when submerged in water. It's common for people within regions that have this fungi to bathe before they go sleep. Community bathhouses are very important for these locations and often double as a community centers. The fungi can be used by chemists to make different types of gasses, its usefulness is still in question.
• Fengalm is a very quick growing grass that under the right conditions completely cover a corpse within two days. The base of the grass hardens, making it very difficult for insects to penetrate the outer layer. Inside, however, the roots slowly turn the cadaver into a mushy paste. The grass itself shrivels not soon after, the hardened shell weakens and insects can burrow inside. These pulpy corpses are heavens for carrion crawlers of all species, the grasses roots and seeds are eaten by carrion insects or animals. Either the host dies from other causes and the plant grows from within it or the hardy plant becomes part of the feces which sometimes lands on a corpse. Chemists can easily use the corpse pulp to further as fertilizer, it's a similar process then how galmnphaelimn make it. What interests chemists more is the hardening process of the plants, while flax can already produce quality protection. This plant could increase its protection trice over or so they speculate. The problem is that after the plant dies the hardness rots as well. The grass can also be refined in red pigments.

Societal Applications

Occupations

Because of the many taboos around galmnphaelimni they often remain secluded from the rest of society within their temples. The phaelimni that work here are called the Walgrreimn. It is in the temples of balance they can perform their duties in peace. They do this as scholars, priests or temple guards. Because of their small numbers almost all temples have devoted servants. These servants are often times the malformed, either physically or mentally. These places offer peace to some of these weary outcasts. The prime reason that there are so few beggars around the cities is because they can always find housing and work at the temples. Although the entry level is low, becoming a galmnphaelimn requires a high mental fortitude and a great understanding of biology. Their clothing attire doesn't really have a standard, it is however often dark red. The color of mourning and the dead.

• As galmnphaelimni one must first become a scholar of anatomy. Studies can take many years and requires a very high amount of dedication to the craft. Within the Walgrreimn there are: the students, adepts, teachers and finally masters. These levels are very important, there are many limitations on students for instance and only teachers and masters can become temple guard or priests. The rules are different from temple to temple.
• Temple guard are named Venox Walgrreimn (Venox translated means: a guard/a protector/a judge) and throughout the empire always have two things in common. One, they're all teacher or master scholars making them formidable galmnphaelimni. Two, they are all masters of the sword. These warriors are extremely dangerous to fight against, especially if corpses are nearby. They are armed with hardened bone javelins and high quality bronze swords. With their free hand they use their phaelimni skills to hurl their javelins while still threatening their opponent with their sword. They do both these things at the same time, which is an extraordinary feat. Generally speaking a phaelimn requires all concentration to perform their art.
• The Walgrreimn priests are also scholars within the order. Priests are a lot more involved with the public, they welcome and assist new arrivals. They help ease the pain of families that just lost a loved one and will perform the proper rituals to lay the dead to rest. The leaders of the temple are usually always priests. A very important job of theirs is keeping records of the marked, if a marked body is brought in it must be a sanctioned body.

Technology

The fertilizer made by galmnphaelimni is extremely potent. There are a three distinct types of fertilizer, farmers often like to mix them and they are even sold mixed with varying ratios. One type is design for improving already fertile land, another is designed to make land fertile that previously wasn't and the last type is made to attract a specific type of wasp that feeds on pests (insects), these wasps are called Itfi.
There are also a wide spectrum of poisons that can be manufactured, some more dangerous then others. Most are harmful, some are very useful for treating patients. There is one for instance that paralyzes people, given the right dosage though it can make a person go into a medically induced coma. Galmnphaelimni have created the basis in this specific field of chemistry.
Lastly should be noted that raising the dead is not something galmnphaelimni are capable off. That slow difficult process extremely rare skill is only for those that can master both life and death.